I believe in Dr. Patrick Kraft
- Thread starter Zenophile
- Start date
Seeing that makes me a little uncomfortable as he doesn't seem to hate us.
After eight years (time sure flies when you're being waterboarded) of Ms. Excellence, I'll take it.
Guy is a legit ball of energy and very personable. I believe he is going to do great things at PSU.
Not trying to be a jerk, but I've seen the guy at sporting events being a cheerleader. That's the easy part, and what we as fans do. I'm waiting on substantive improvements to athletics. Those might not be sexy, but that is the crux of the job, isn't it? (yes, he's better than Sandy, but if his pay is on par with her bloated salary, then we should be expecting way the hell more than cheerleading.)
Two examples come to mind:
One, I've heard repeatedly that Jeffrey Field is in dire need of improvements, yet for the past week or so they've been putting up a new ... scoreboard. Is that really the most important thing or is that what they can sell ads/commericals on for the few fans that show up?
Two: I just received an email in the last few days stating that hockey renewals are going to be due soon. The home season literally just ended, the team is likely going to play in the NCAAs but they're going to need money this far out? That's a cash grab for sure.
Two examples come to mind:
One, I've heard repeatedly that Jeffrey Field is in dire need of improvements, yet for the past week or so they've been putting up a new ... scoreboard. Is that really the most important thing or is that what they can sell ads/commericals on for the few fans that show up?
Two: I just received an email in the last few days stating that hockey renewals are going to be due soon. The home season literally just ended, the team is likely going to play in the NCAAs but they're going to need money this far out? That's a cash grab for sure.
To be fair, he has been on the job less than a year. Takes time to raise the kind of funds necessary to make up for past oversights.
The scoreboard is part of the Jeffrey Field improvement plan. Here's more info:
JEFFREY FIELD FACILITY UPDATE
Thanks to the hard work of our Development Office led by our new AD, Pat Kraft, and his team, we are getting closer to our target number of $20M to break down on a new facility at Jeffrey Field. Pat has indicated that the University/Athletic Department will be funding $12M of the project and we were charged with raising $8M. In the last update we received we had raised $4M with a few more opportunities on the table. It’s a very exciting time and we’re working closely with Jeff and the men’s staff to design a proper facility to service the needs of our student-athletes and programs. Here is the Spark page that was shared with the alums on the call. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you are interested in helping with the project!
https://express.adobe.com/page/oaWhicEMFaE8e/
No objection to the plan, but the prioritization of the scoreboard was my point. Locker rooms and bathroom facilities would seem to be of a higher priority, but I guess that's just me.
Can we be happy he doesn't hate us and call it a day at least today? Small, very small victories.
Don't disagree, but every day for the past week+, they've have been working on that scoreboard. Must be one helluva upgrade. It's not that bog of a scoreboard.
For seven figures, not hating us is a bar so low as to be subterranean. I know expectations should be lowered, but ugh.
And what do you know about scoreboard installation and why do you care about the timeline?
Didn't claim any special knowledge in any post. My comments were A) wondering about prioritization of a scoreboard when there are much larger and more severe soccer field needs and B) about the extent of the upgrade. (If you are an athletics supporter, you are aware that the university has been banging the drum regarding the needed soccer field improvements for a very, very long time. Perhaps decades is not overstating it. I've only lived here for 25 years, but the Jeffrey Field situation has been needy for that entire time.
As a longtime resident, Park Avenue user and 45+ year NLC member, it seems this small scoreboard is taking more time than something of its size should. Perhaps an unknown issue has arisen? IDK. And, IIRC, it didn't take this long for the two scoreboards at the Beav to be lifted into place a couple hundred feet off the ground. Perhaps more prelim work occurred in that instance to make it smooth and quick.
If you have this knowledge, feel free to share your insights. And if you are a knee-jerk university apologist who feels that a mistake is never made there, please spare me. It's neither perfect nor evil. Just questionably managed in some aspects, and in my mind, this instance is one.
Piss on the new scoreboard. Two birds, one stone.
I’m as far from a university apologist as you’ll find ’round these parts. He’s absolutely more than a cheerleader.
I know for certain that he’s been making substantive changes, very little of which is currently viewable from Park Ave.
This is what we're up against. It's gonna take awhile to recover from the "Comprehensive Excellence" achieved under Sandy and Eric the Chubby.
It seems she vanished the last year or so. I wonder if she was even welcome around football.You don't remember Sandy being equally demonstrative?
I have a background in construction and I'm familiar with how gov't bid processes and contracts work. Ya know, things that can't be seen driving by on Park Ave. In the picture I posted, there's one guy in the lift with 2 ground support guys. I bet if there were 6 ground support guys you'd lose your mind everyday even though the work isn't being paid for by the University.
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Surprising I ran into her at the 82 natl championship reunion at the baseball stadium last season. Was really surprised when she stopped me to talk. Didn’t expect to see her there. Pat did a great job at the reunion and has great gifts for the team including shirts that had Joes image on them.
I haven’t seen her in Lasch in a long time.
Kraft chose to be at the B1G Wrestling Finals over other PSU athletics events, including the final regular season home bball game. He has shown strong support for Micah and hoops, and will no doubt continue to. He can't be everywhere at once.
Imo, he made the right choice here, showing fervent support for our premier wrestling program. Which, from what I've been told, is a refreshing and much needed change from Sandy's rather impersonal approach to Cael and the program in general, outside of her jumping on personal photo ops due to its unparalleled success.
Let's hope Kraft continues to do the smart things to keep Cael feeling the love from the Administration. Including leading the cheers now and then.
Imo, he made the right choice here, showing fervent support for our premier wrestling program. Which, from what I've been told, is a refreshing and much needed change from Sandy's rather impersonal approach to Cael and the program in general, outside of her jumping on personal photo ops due to its unparalleled success.
Let's hope Kraft continues to do the smart things to keep Cael feeling the love from the Administration. Including leading the cheers now and then.
Finally an AD with some marketing sense. WE ARE is one of the most recognizable chants in American athletics. Props to Pat for getting it out there.
My intuition is that something went down during the 2020 vote to cancel the season and then the clumsy reversal of that decision. The Program had so many hurdles to clear players to practice etc. and I think relationships were irreparably broken.
James had the look of a man betrayed after that.
He's new, give him a little time to build up bitter and resentment towards us.
A few visits here will take care of everything.
At about the 18 minute mark (18:07) you can hear Dr. Kraft address the state of the Penn State brand, where he discusses the necessity of reconsolidating the fanbase. Suffice it to say he seems understand what the obstacle is.
That was back in August, over six months ago. Kraft likely has encountered tough sledding around said obstacle.
Actually you would be wrong. Read the tea leaves. Barriers and people are being moved out of the way. More news on that coming.
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